Help Your Child Overcome Anxiety

Anxiety affects 1 in 7 Australian children, making it one of the most common mental health challenges facing young people today (Lawrence et al., 2015). If left untreated, anxiety can interfere with school, friendships, and family life. The good news? With early, evidence-based support, children and teens can learn the skills they need to face their fears and thrive.

The Take Action! program is a highly effective, evidence-based group treatment that helps children and adolescents aged 7–15 manage anxiety. Developed by leading clinical psychologists, this program uses cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques to empower kids to understand anxiety, build confidence, and take positive steps toward change.

What Is the Take Action! Program?

Take Action! is a manualised CBT program grounded in years of clinical research. It teaches children how to identify anxious thoughts, challenge them with logic, and replace them with more helpful ways of thinking and behaving. Each letter in the acronym A.C.T.I.O.N. stands for a practical step children can take when they feel anxious.

Take Action! has been shown to significantly reduce anxiety symptoms in children (Hudson et al., 2009; Nixon et al., 2013). It draws on up-to-date research in child anxiety, including how thinking patterns can become distorted by threat bias and how structured, skills-based programs can retrain these responses (Beames et al., 2023).

Online Delivery, Real-World Benefits

Now available online through Mindaras Psychology, Take Action! allows children to participate from the comfort of home—making it ideal for families in regional areas or with busy schedules. Online CBT for children has been shown to be as effective as in-person delivery for reducing anxiety symptoms (Domingues et al., 2023), with the added bonus of flexibility and accessibility.

Each session is fun, interactive, and age-appropriate, featuring games, discussions, and practical take-home tools. Parents are also supported with guidance on how to reinforce skills between sessions, enhancing outcomes long after the group has finished.

Why Parents Choose Take Action!

• Evidence-Based: Supported by multiple peer-reviewed studies.

• Designed for Kids: Engaging and developmentally appropriate.

• Flexible and Accessible: Delivered securely online in small groups.

• Parent Involvement: Families are part of the journey.

• Proven Results: Children show reduced anxiety and improved coping skills.

Help Your Child Feel Braver and More in Control

If your child struggles with worry, separation fears, or social anxiety, the Take Action! program can make a real difference. At Mindaras Psychology, we are passionate about helping kids develop lifelong emotional skills in a warm, supportive space.

🌟 Now enrolling for our next online group. Spots are limited!
👉 Visit our online store to find out more information and pay your deposit to secure your child's spot in the next group. Alternatively, text us on 0494 149 408 to get more information.

References

Beames, J. R., Christensen, H., Werner-Seidler, A., et al. (2023). The role of threat-based cognitive biases in the development of anxiety disorders in children. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 26(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-023-00410-9

Domingues, J., Silva, S., Xavier, M., & Pereira, A. I. (2023). Efficacy of internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for youth anxiety: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 326, 165–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.091

Hudson, J. L., Rapee, R. M., Deveney, C., et al. (2009). Treating socially anxious children with group cognitive-behavioral therapy: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(3), 525–535. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015765

Lawrence, D., Johnson, S., Hafekost, J., et al. (2015). The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Report on the Second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Department of Health.

Nixon, R. D., & Merlevede, F. (2013). Treating anxiety in children: Take Action program manual. Australian Academic Press.